In the early days of Bollywood, the industry often turned a blind eye to inappropriate behavior. With no social media or public accountability, powerful stars could get away with disturbing comments or actions without facing consequences. One such shocking moment has recently come to light again, involving legendary Bollywood villain Pran.
A disturbing old video clip from an interview aired on Aaj Tak has resurfaced online, leaving many viewers shocked and angry. In the video, the interviewer casually jokes with Pran about his roles where he played a rapist on-screen. What follows is a conversation that today would be condemned immediately – but back then, it was shown on national television without question.
The interviewer asks Pran, who was around 84 years old at the time, “If you got the chance to play those roles again, which actress would you like to perform those rape scenes with?” At first, Pran appears taken aback, giving hope that he might reject such a question. But that hope quickly fades when he responds, “Well, at this age I’d have to look for someone.”
Instead of stopping the line of questioning, the interviewer pushes further. He clarifies that he’s asking what Pran would do if he were young again, like in his prime – around 21, 30, or 35. “If God gave you another life, and you could do those same things again, which actress would you choose?” he asks.
Pran replies with a chilling comment: “It doesn’t matter who the heroine is. If I have to do a bad thing, I’ll do it. It makes no difference who the actress is.”
The interviewer continues with even more disturbing remarks: “So, you mean as long as it’s with a woman, it doesn’t matter what she looks like?” And that’s when Pran responds with a deeply offensive and shocking statement: “No, she shouldn’t be ugly. You don’t rape ugly women.”
The interviewer, instead of stopping the conversation or condemning it, agrees and adds, “No, that shouldn’t happen either.”
This horrifying clip was recently shared on Instagram by a page called Masoom Shishu, leaving viewers speechless. It’s hard to believe such a conversation aired publicly and was considered “entertainment.” Today, it serves as a dark reminder of how women were often objectified and disrespected, even in mainstream media.
While actors like Salman Khan have faced backlash in recent years for comparing his workout to being raped, this interview shows that Bollywood’s problematic relationship with women on and off screen has deep roots.
Watching this video today brings a mix of anger, shame, and disbelief. It’s a stark reminder of why accountability and change are so important in the entertainment industry. Women are not objects or punchlines – and they never were.
Let’s hope conversations like these are never normalized again.
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